Abstract
Marine renewable energy (MRE) sources, including tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy, represent a promising avenue for sustainable power generation. However, the intermittent and variable nature of these sources poses challenges for grid integration and stability. Energy storage systems offer a viable solution to mitigate the inherent variability of marine energy generation and enhance its reliability and grid compatibility. This comprehensive review examines the integration of energy storage technologies with MRE sources, aiming to provide insights into the synergistic relationship between these two domains and identify opportunities for advancements.
The review begins by categorizing MRE sources and delving into their unique characteristics, advantages, and challenges. It then discusses various energy storage technologies, including Mechanical, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, and Electrochemical, examining their suitability for integration with different MRE applications. Each storage technology is evaluated based on factors such as Energy density, Efficiency, Response time, Lifespan, Cost, Scalability and Environmental impact providing a comparative analysis to guide selection decisions.
Furthermore, the review highlights the critical role of energy storage in enhancing grid stability and power quality in MRE systems. They assist in managing the intermittency and variability of MRE sources, by providing a buffer to store energy when available and deliver it when needed, thus enhancing predictability and reliability. Moreover, energy storage systems play a vital role in powering remote marine installations and autonomous vessels, enabling off-grid operation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels in challenging maritime environments. Additionally, they contribute to the advancement of the Blue Economy by facilitating the deployment of renewable energy technologies for various marine applications.
Furthermore, the review explores integration strategies and operational considerations for combining energy storage with MRE systems. Power electronics converters play a crucial role in facilitating this integration, enabling bidirectional power flow, voltage regulation, and synchronization between energy storage systems and MRE converters. The review provides insights into the design and deployment of power electronics converters tailored for MRE applications, emphasizing their importance in maximizing system efficiency and stability.
Moreover, the review addresses challenges and barriers to the widespread adoption of energy storage in MRE systems, including technological limitations, regulatory frameworks, and economic viability. It discusses environmental and socioeconomic considerations, highlighting the importance of holistic planning and stakeholder engagement in project development. Through a synthesis of existing literature and case studies, this review identifies current trends, challenges, and future directions in the integration of energy storage with MRE sources. It underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative technology development, and supportive policy frameworks to unlock the full potential of this synergistic approach.
In conclusion, bridging the gap between MRE and energy storage holds immense promise for advancing renewable energy deployment, achieving energy resilience, and mitigating climate change impacts. By leveraging complementary attributes and overcoming existing challenges, integrated marine energy and energy storage systems can contribute significantly to a sustainable and resilient energy future.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) Award Number DE-EE0009450.